Surgical instrument



July 17,1928. 1,677,209

D. K. ROSE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT Filed' April 21, 1928 D g b way/roe:-

Patented July 17, 1928.

uNirEo STATES PATENT OFFICE.

rumour. ROSE, er. LOUIS, MISSOURI, AssieNoR To JosEPH H. ZUMBALEN, or

sr. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SURGICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed April 21, 1926. Serial No. 103,415.

,My invention relates to surgical instruments andhas for its principal object adevice by which operations on the prostate gland andotheroperations in the urethral canal may be performed quickly and easily with full vision throughout'the operation and with aminimum loss of blood. The invention consists principally in a surgical instrument or punchcomprising a hollow tube 1 or sheath in which is mounted a hollow tubular member on the end of which is formed a cutting tool and adjacent to the end of which is an electric resistance element whereby the wound may be cauterized immediately after acut has been made. The invention further consists in the surgical instrument and in the parts and combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed. I V

Inthe accompanying drawing,

Fig. *1 is aside elevation ofa surgical in strument embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof,

Fig. 3 is a part top plan view,

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the outer sheath,

Fig. 5 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the end portion of the inner tubular member, showing the cutting tool and the heating element, p f

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view on the same scale as Fig.5, on the line -6 in Fi 5,"and p ig. 7 is a cross-sectionalview on an enlarged scaleon the line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

The device comprises an outer tubular sheath 1 and a hollow tubular member 2' disposed therein and carrying at its end a cutting tool 3 and an electric resistance element .4.

The outer sheath 1 is preferably provided with a rounded and upturned end portion 5. At the other end said outer sheath 1 is providedwith an annular end ring 6 whereby 'it mayheld by the surgeon.

. The outer sheath 1 is provided with a channel or slot 7 extending longitudinally of the bottom thereof throughout the greater portion of its length. In said slot 7 fits a raisedri'b portion 8 of the inner supporting tube 2, so that said tube is accurately positioned and guided. Said inner tubular member? is provided with an end ring 9 to which is secured a loop 10 in which the thumbof the surgeon may be inserted to manipulate the inner member and the tool.

Near the end said outer sheath 1 has a cut-away portion 11 adapted to make room for the cuttingtool 3 to operate. Adjacent to said cut-away portion of the'sheath l is a bridge 12 closing the end of the longitudinal slot 7 and adapted to be engaged by a shoulder 13 at the end ofsaid rib portion 8 of the inner tube 2 to act as a stop therefor. The cutting tool 3 is of suitable tool steel or other material, it is arcuate to conform to the shape of the tube and is formed. or mounted atthe end of said inner tube. Just behind said cutting tool 3 in an opening 14. provided therefor in the inner tube is the electric resistance element 4 comprising a is connected to a suitable conducting element 17 extending the length of the inner tube in the rib portion thereof Sand provided with a suitable insulation .18; p

'At the outer end said conductingniember 17 is provided with a rebent portion 19 that issecured to a plate'QO mounted on the end ring 9'of the inner tubularmember 2. Said rebent portion 19 of the conducting member 17 accommodates any expansion or contraction thatmay takeplace A binding post :21 and thumb screw 22 are mounted on said plate 20 and adapted to receive contact members 23 of an electric circuit. Thecircuit passes through the plate 20 of the conducting member 17, thence through the 'resistance element 4 and back through the inner tubular member 2 of the plate '20 and the second contact member 23. The desired heatof the resistance member 4 enabling it tocauterize a'cut is obtained by varying the amount of the currentand also by properly proportioning the size, shape and material of the resistance element and the size and material of the inner tubular member 2. These several features are capable of varie .rent

tion and may be wor ed out by those skilled in the art.

Pivotally secured to the end of the inner tubular member 2 is a bracket 24 carrying an electric light 25 adapted to illuminate the interiorof the inner tubular member.

In using the instrument, the inner tubular member 2 is pushed as far forward as possible in the outer sheath 1, so that the cutting tool 3 rests in the end portion of the outer sheath, and the cutting edge is covered. The instrument is inserted into the urethral canal and when the cut-awayportion 11 of the outer sheath is adjacent to the prostate gland or other growth or diseased portion that is to be operated on, the inner tubular member). is retracted, thus giving a clear view of the diseased portion or of the growth to be cut. The outer sheath 1 and the inner tubular member 2 are then nia-nip ulated so that the cutting tool 3 is brought into positionto make a out. Then the inner tubular member 2 is pushed forward, causing the cutting tool 3 to make its out; and, immediately (by any suitable means not shown in the drawing) the electric current is turned on through the resistance element i. Said resistance element innnediately be comes quite hot and cauterizes' the wound. The heating of the cauterizing element is turned so that cauterization takes place simultaneously with the completion of the out. The inner tubular member may again be retracted, an inspection made, and such additional cut or cuts as are advisable may be made, the wound in each case being immediately cauterized, as above described.

The above described instrument-has numerous advantages. It is simple and easy to operate, andthe member being operated on is always inview of thesurgeom The wound made by the cutting tool lS-IIIIIHQClL- ately cauterized, thus preventing-the risk of a patient bleeding to death and also making it possible for the surgeon to see the results of the operation without having the vision impaired by a flow of blood.

Obviously, numerous changes may be made without departing from the invention; and I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction shown.

What I claim is:

1. A surgical instrument comprising a support, a cutting tool thereon, an electric heating element adjacent to said cutting tool whereby it may be moved into engagement withthe wound byslight continued movement of said cutting tool support after operatin said tool and a source of electric curor said heating element, whereby a cut made by the cutting tool may immediately be cauterized.

A surgical instrument comprising a hollow sheath, a support for a'cutting tool slidably mounted therein, a cutting tool at the end of said support, said sheath having a cut-away portion adapted to permit said cutting tool to funetiomand a cauterizing element on said support adjacent to said cutting tool whereby it may be moved into (211- gagement with the wound by slight continued movement of said cutting tool support.

' 3.1r surgical instrument comprising a hollow sheath, a hollow tubular member therein, a cutting tool at the end of said inner tubular member, said sheath having a cutaway portion adapted to permit said cutting tool to function, and a cauterizing element on said inner tubular member immediately behind said cutting tool and adapted ,to cautcrize the wound made by said cutting tool immediately after the out ting tool has operated.

i. A. surgical instrument comprising an outer sheath having a cut-away portion, a support for a'cuttingtool slidable in said sheath, :1 cutting tool at the end of said support adapted to extend into the cab away portion of said outer sheath, an elec- .tric resistance element carried by said sup port ad acent to said cutting tool, and an electric conductor carried by said support and insulated therefrom, said resistance element being electrically connected to'said inner tubular member and said conductor so that by turningon electric current said resistance element may be heated to cauterize the wound.

A surgical instrument comprising an outer sheath havim a cutaway portion, an inner tubular member in said sheath, a cutting tool at the end of said inner tubular member adapted to extend into the cut-away portion of said outer sheath, an electric resistance element carried by said inner tubular member adjacent to said cutting tool, an electric conductor carried by said inner tubular member and insulated there from, said resistance element being electri- Inn cally connected to said inner tubular member and said conductor so that by turning on electric current said resistance elen'ient may be heated to cauterize the wound and means for illuminating the interior of said inner tubular member.

6. A surgical instrument comprising an outer sheath, an inner tubular member slidable in said sheath, a cutting tool at the end of said inner tubular member, an electrical conductor extending along said inner tubnlar member and insulated therefrom, said inner tubular portion having an opening in its wall adjacent to said tool, and an electric resistance element disposed in said opening, said element being connected at one end with said conductor and at the other end with said tubular member and being elsewhere spaced away from said tubular member and the resistance element serving to cauterize the wound when heated by the passage of electric current therethrough.

7. A surgical instrument comprising a hollow sheath, a hollow tubular support slidable therein, a cutting tool of tool metal at the end of said support, said sheath having a cutaway portion for said cuttin tool, an electric resistance element on sai support adjacent to said cutting tool whereby it may be moved into engagement with the Wound 10 by slight movement of said support after operating said tool and means permitting electric current to pass through said resistance element to heat it and cauterize the Wound. V

Signed at St. Louis, Missouri, this 14th day of April, 1926.

DALTON K. ROSE. 

